Homegrown talent shone brightly at Padang Padang today, as 16-year-olds Westen Hirst from Lakey Peak and Jasmine Studer from Kuta claimed victory at Indonesia’s most iconic and longest-standing surf competition – The Rip Curl Cup – in absolutely epic conditions.
Flawless six-foot waves rolled in consistently throughout the day, setting the stage for standout performances from the nation’s finest surfers alongside top-tier international free surfers.
The Rip Curl Cup is known for its “swell-dependent” format – it only runs when the waves are firing. This year was no exception.
With just a few days’ notice, surfers from across the globe scrambled to Bali’s Bukit Peninsula after the green light was given for Sunday’s start.
The stacked invite-only lineup featured big names such as Mason Ho, Ivan Florence, Tosh Tudor, and Balaram Stack, as well as a host of legendary Indonesian surfers.
Jasmine Studer stole the show in the women’s final, locking in a perfect 10 and backing it up with an 8.17 to seal the win.
Willow Hardy was hot on her heels, posting a near-perfect 9 and an 8.33 in a fierce bid for the top spot but ultimately came up just short.
The conditions stayed pristine all afternoon, offering endless barrels and showcasing some of the best women’s tube-riding ever witnessed.
Ziggy Mackenzie nearly pulled off a buzzer-beater, scoring what could have been a perfect 10 just seconds after the final horn, as Jasmine rode through the channel in celebration.
“I’m so happy, I’m speechless. It’s the most surreal moment of my life,” said Jasmine.
“I loved surfing Padang with five girls out, it was amazing. I did not think I was coming out of that 10-point ride.
The spit hit me, and I did not think I was coming out. It was just so surreal, it was so much fun.”
Indonesian Domination
On the men’s side, Westen Hirst set the tone early in the final with a stunning double-barrel ride that earned him a 9.9.
Ivan Florence found a few gems, while Tosh Tudor and Westen both had promising waves end with heavy wipeouts.
Local favorite Ketut Agus struggled to find solid scoring opportunities in the early stages.
But the momentum shifted in the final ten minutes.
Ketut rallied with some beautifully executed tubes to close the gap, only for Westen to answer back with a critical 7.33, locking in his championship win.
This teenage triumph drew comparisons to Erin Brooks’ unforgettable win at the Cup a few years back.
There was no shortage of highlight-reel moments throughout the day – Ivan Florence stunned spectators with a near-impossible exit from a draining tube, and Made “Bol” Adi Putra landed a textbook stand-up barrel.
Ketut Agus also grabbed a throaty 9.8 en route to the final.
In addition to his final-round victory, Westen Hirst also posted the day’s highest combined qualifying score, which only certified his dominance throughout the event.
A well-earned title, no doubt.
“I’ve been surfing here [at Padang] for a long time now. Since I was 10 or maybe even younger. I got my first proper barrel here, and now, finally, I’m in The Rip Curl Cup, and I won. It’s just crazy,” said Westen.
The day will go down as one of the most memorable in recent Rip Curl Cup history – a celebration of talent, barrels, and the bright future of surfing in Indonesia.
2025 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang
Men
- Westen Hirst (INA) 18.57
- Tosh Tudor (USA) 14.97
- Ketut Agus (INA) 13.70
- Ivan Florence (HAW) 5.33
Women
- Jasmine Studer (INA) 18.17
- Willow Hardy (AUS) 17.33
- Kya Heuer (INA) 13.27
- Ziggy McKenzie (AUS) 10.00
- Kya Heuer (INA) 5.64
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